Collective Farm Woman is a Keeper! In spite of powdery mildew devastating my two Collective Farm Woman melon plants (see “Cutting My Losses”), I will be planting them again next year. Why? Because they are quick to ripen (80-85 days), and there’s no guesswork when they are ready. They simply let go of the vine and you pick them up. And because the taste and texture is divine.
My online garden pal, Bob, (+dakotabob10) and I exchanged melon seeds in the spring. I had seen the Kajari melon featured on Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds site, and when I tried to order, they were sold out. But, I wrote to them and they found just a few seeds and sent them to me to try. I split them with Bob, and his are growing great and mine never made it past the sprout stage. Meanwhile, he sent me Collective Farm Woman seeds. I only managed to plant two seedlings due to my small space garden.
Those two vines were very prolific, before being devastated by powdery mildew. (When leaves are coated front and back, it’s really too late to spray.) Even so, I will harvest at least a dozen melons. I gave two away and reports came back they were delicious. The one I have eaten melted in my mouth. The rind is thin, so almost all of what’s inside is tender, and very sweet. Usual ripe size is about 7″. Mine are on the small side, mainly because I don’t think they got enough water.
I’m saving seeds and for the first 10 subscribers who share this post with a friend who subscribes, I will send you seeds for next year! Just send me an email with your address from the Contact Kaye page of this site.
Collective Farm Woman seeds were first collected in the Ukraine. Collectivization was a policy under Stalin in the USSR which put individual peasant farms into collective farms to increase production and streamline distribution. I’m so glad we can all grow our own food in our own space!
Success strategies for next year will be to give more room between plants and grow them on a trellis. I gave them a piece of fencing on one side this year, but they spread through it and all around. Next year, I will be a stricter mother! I will water more. Because it doesn’t rain in the summer, I tend to be a bit stingy with watering, but melons need water! I will also be spraying with all-natural sprays for powdery mildew and rotating with compost tea spray every week, because these melons are very special! Thanks for reading and please share! Thanks!
I receive a small commission for promoting products I’ve used and believe in. Your support of these products helps me to continue to produce “Late Bloomer” episodes to inspire people to grow their own food and take control over their food security. Click on button to order products! Thank you!
Help me inspire people to grow their own food and take control over their food security. Your donation of any amount makes “Late Bloomer” possible and available for anyone.
Thank you!
